School: Ráth Dubh, An Bhlárna (roll number 8393)

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1. Festival Customs

   

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   In most districts feasts are observed in a special manner as they occur each year. On Christmas Day boys hunt the wren and on St. Stephen's Day they go in a procession from house to house with decorated bushes singing the Wren's Song.
   "The Wren, the Wren the King of all birds,
   On Christmas Day, he was caught in the furze,
   He flew from bush to bush and from tree to tree,
   At Rockhill Bridge he broke his knee,
   I have a little box under my arm,
   Two or three pence will do it no harm.
   If you will fill it of the best,
   I hope in heaven your soul will rest,
   If you fill it of the small,
   The Wren Boys won't agree at all.
   So up with the kettle, and down with the pot
   Give us our answer and let us be off.
   Mr. O'Sullivan is a noble man,
   To your house we brought this wren,
   A pint of whiskey and three half pence of beer,
   To wish you all a happy New Year.
   Long ago it was a custom for boys to go from house to house with dressed up sticks called Bridógs on St. Brigid's Night.
   On St. Patrick's Day people wear shamrocks on their coats, and in some places there are processions in honour of St. Patrick.
   Shrove Tuesday night is called Sceilg Night. Boys go from house to house dressed up in a queer fashion. If they find

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Joan Coleman

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Knockantota South, Co. Cork

   Informant

   Tim Coleman

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Knockantota South, Co. Cork